Operational Procedures and Helicopter Flight Techniques
Normal and emergency procedures
Know the standard procedures for pre-flight, engine start, hover checks, take-off, approach and landing. Understand the confined area and sloping ground techniques, and the precautions for dust, snow and water. Learn the emergency procedures: autorotation, tail rotor failure, engine fire, and hydraulic failure. Know the difference between a powered approach and an autorotative approach, and when each is appropriate.
Special operations
Understand sling load and external load operations, the effects of the load on CG and performance, and the danger of dynamic rollover. Know the procedures for pinnacle and ridge operations, and the importance of approach and departure paths. Learn the precautions for flight over water, including ditching and float equipment.
Traps in questions
Questions often ask for the first action in an emergency: for an engine failure at low altitude, the answer is usually to lower collective and enter autorotation, not to troubleshoot. Another trap is confusing dynamic rollover with ground resonance. Watch for questions that ask what to do before lifting a sling load: check the load, the crew and the escape route.
Worked example
Rule of thumb: in a confined area, plan the approach so that a go-around is possible until the last moment, and identify a rejected take-off path before committing. If the question describes an obstacle on the approach, the expected answer is a steeper approach with a higher hover.